Dry cleaning apparatuses



Sept. 20, 1955 J. P. JORGENSON DRY CLEANING APPARATUSES Filed Aug. 30, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept 20, 1955 J. P. .JoRGENsoN 2,718,134

DRY CLEANING APPARATUSES Filed Aug. 30, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. mw

BY )bm M United States Patenti() DRY CLEANINGAPPARATUSES .lohn P. Jorgensen, Wilmetteflll., assigner to Ayr-Mor "Machinery Co.,'.Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application :August SW1-1951, Serial iNo: 244,313

9 Claims. I(Cl.A 68-18) This invention relates to improvements in dry cleaning apparatuses.

in the use of dry .cleaning-devices, after the washing and extracting cycles, heated air is usually circulated through the garments to remove any remaining cleaning fluid therefrom and to` perform final-drying and vdeodorization. In the conventionalmachine the air is blown transversely into the periphery of the cylinder iny the upper portion thereof, and the outlet -for'the air is usually located in the. upper portionopposite the intake. As a result, a good deal of thefheated airbypasses the garments because' the latter are being tumbled principally in the lower portion ofthe cylinder. Thus the drying cycle takes longer than is necessary andis not particularly efficient.

it is a general object ofthe, present inventionto prolvide'dry cleaning apparatus which isconstructed to provide formaximum recovery of Ithefsolvent remaining in the garments after extraction,l by providing for maximum air recirculation through the f garments in avery efficient manner.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a device as above described wherein thedeodorization lof the garments takes place Amore rapidly.

A more specilcv objectof the invention is to provide a dry cleaning device which includes a substantially closed suctionsystem for causing circulation of air, with the inlet and outlet to the cylinder so arranged as to provide for maximum Contact with the tumbling garments.

A further object of lthe invention is `to provide a construction as abovet described wherein the air movement is in a downward -direction to correspond with the natural tendency of the heavy cleaning vapors to descend.

A further object of the invention is to providel dry cleaning apparatus as i above described which, because cf the suction system and efficient arrangementY of parts, makes it possible to use a relatively small condenser and heater and 'relatively smallvducts and ports, there being highly emcient results notwithstanding such small size.

A still further object of the invention is to provide dry cleaning apparatus which is so constructed as to permit the use of a lower drying temperature therebyfreducing shrinkage, eliminating the possibility of setting stains and the possibility. of other damage caused by` excessive temperatures.

A more specitciobject ofthe invention is to provide dry cleaning apparatus whereinzthere is ahollow perforated drive shaft 'through'which heated air is introduced into the cylinder; there'. beingan outlet in the lower portion of the'device'forwithdrawing. the 'air andvvapors, and there being a diametric'ally; extending perforated partition to eliminate the possibility of garments winding on the axial drive shaft.

A further 'object of the invention is to provide dry cleaning apparatus wherein.the maximum recovery of cleaning fluid is made possible with resulting economy of operation.

With theabove 'and other 'objects' in view,` the nvention. consists of .the improved dry cleaning apparatus and all'of its parts and combinations,as set forth inthe claims, and alllequivalents thereof.

In thexaccompanying drawings illustrating-onecompleteembodiment ofthe preferred form of the invention,

inwhich the same reference numerals designate lthe same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l 4is a perspective view ofthe improved dry cleaning machine, parts being broken away;

'Figi 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cylinder and associated parts, portions being broken away to .illustrate the interior,the view looking principally at the includes'an'outer generally cylindrical casing. 10 `supported on a4 suitable base- 10', which base may serve as a housing for associated mechanism. Extending axially of the casing Il) is a sh'aft 1'1 (see Fig. 2). One end oftheshaft v'projects'from'theend' of the casing and has a pulley 12 `rigidly' mounted thereon. vrl.`he pulley 12 is connected-by jan endlessidriving belt 13 with .the pulley14 on the shaft of'anelectric motor` 15. 'The' end lof' the shaft which hasthefpulley is' suitably journalled in a bearing' 16` at "one end of the'casin`g10.

A 'Withirrthe''casing 10 the drive shaft, throughout the majorfportion: ofits' length, is hollow and provided with vperforation`s17 as isclear from Fig'. 2. 'At' the. opposite lend of the casing theV endiof' the hollow'p'ortion of the 'shaft isopen as' at'18 (see Figs. 2 and'3) and said end issuitably'journalled in a'be'aring 19 carried by the end *20' of'the'casing,therebeing a cap 2l connected to the `outer side of the" bearing assemblyv by' bolts 21. vThe 'open'entl'flS of the drive shafty l1 projects into the hollow interior of the cap 21 and. there is a circular seal 22 positioned around the shaft '11 and sealing the space between theexteriorof' the latter and the innerl wall portion ofthe capl21. Another vseal 23 surrounds the exterior of the shafty llas illustrated in'Fig. 3.

` Connected to the shaft 11 for rotation therewith is a cylinder24 having a loading openingA 2S in one end wall 26, which opening is adapted to be closed by a suitable door 27. TheA opening 25 is adapted to bef placed in registration with a similar opening inthe wall 2l) of the casing, vwhich opening is'normally closed by a door-55.

vrThe opposite end"'28 of the cylinder 24 is closed and unperforated.4 The peripheral wall 29 of thecylinder is provided 'with perforationsll ysubstantially throughout its area.

A diametrically extending partiion'31 having perforations 32' substantially throughout its. areadivides l the cylinder into two semi-cylindrical"chambers. The .parti- -tionf31'is supported'atits endfedges between pairs` of 'gusset' plates 33, there being suitable bolts 3i! extending through the plates andpartition. The plates at each e'nd `of the cylinder are connected to the' exterior of a short a flanged -seat'iforv receiving the ends of a sleeve 37. iThe sleeve` 31 isp'erforatedlas at-33 substantially throughout its length andsaid sleeve is of substantially `larg-er -diameter than. the drive shaft^1l,"the latter extending-through Y thesleeve'as is clear frorirFigs. 2^-and 3.

yfThe apparatus `illustratedin thefdrawing is designed lto perform allvof vthe Vnecessary dry cleaning operations,

,there being a `washingcycle,` an extracting'cycle-fandv a drying cycle. Thepresentfinvention,v however, relatesto the last-mentioned .cycle and therefore the ;appara'tus which is employed in the other cycles has not been described in detail. However, there is a dump valve 39 which may be electrically operated in a suitable manner rand which controls the flow of cleaning fluid from the bottom chamber 4t) (see Fig. 2) of the casing through an foutlet duct 41 which leads to a port 42 in the dump valve ;assembly. Another port 43 in the dump valve assembly 'communicates with a line 44. When the dump valve is "in the position shown in Fig. l vapors will recirculate through the line 44. When the valve is opened, however, liquid is permitted to flow through the discharge line 45, \which line may lead to a tank or reservoir.

Another line 46, which extends from the cylinder to the ldischarge pipe 45 is an overflow line for controlling the height of liquid within the washing cylinder during the `-washing operation. Cleaning fluid, preferably perchlorethylene is directed into an opening 56 in the top of the cylinder through a loading line 57.

When the drying cycle with which the present invention 'is concerned is being carried out, the valve in the valve :assembly 39 is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The purjpose of the drying cycle is to remove any remaining cleaning fluid from the garments which may be left in them after the extracting cycle. This not only results in a reclamation of these remaining quantities of cleaning fluid, with resulting economies, but it also completes the drying (of the garments and the deodorization thereof.

At the time the drying cycle is being carried out there is, of course, no cleaning fluid in the cylinder or casing `10 except the small quantity which remains in the garments. During this cycle the discharge conduit 41 at the bottom of the casing serves as a suction opening through 'which vapors are removed. These vapors then pass .through the pipe 44 and into a suitable condenser 47 where any solvent is removed by the condensation process rand then returned to the solvent storage tank for further use. From the condenser 47 air passes through a line 48 'leading to the center of a suction fan 49. The latter has :an outlet opening 50 through which the air is discharged lcentrifugally into the line 51, the latter leading to a heater :52. In the line 51 is a vent or air outlet opening 53 and there is also an air valve assembly S4 leading from an :air inlet opening 54.

Air which has been heated in the heater 52 is circulated 'through the pipe 53 which leads into the opening of the hollow bearing cap 21, This heated air is then directed :into the open end 18 of the hollow drive shaft 11 where it emerges from the perforations 17 of the shaft into the :space between the shaft and sleeve 37 and then emerges from the perforations 38 in the sleeve 37. if*

During the drying cycle air is circulated and recirculated through the cylinder a predetermined number of times to remove all cleaning solvent from the garments. At the end of the drying cycle the air valve 54 automatically closes off communication between the pipe 51 rand the heater 52 with the result that the air delivered by the suction fan is then exhausted to the outside atmosphere through the vent 53. While this is taking place the valve 54 has opened communication between the air inlet opening S4' and the pipe leading to the heater 52.*l

to draw in fresh air from the atmosphere. This fresh fair performs the final deodorization of the garments. This same arrangement is also useful during the period of loading garments into the cylinder. By turning on the fan any vapors which may remain in the cylinder as the suction fan 49 goes on, after an extracting cycle has been completed, that air and vapors will flow as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. Each time the vapors pass into the condenser additional cleaning fluid is removed, which fluid may be suitably returned to the storage tank. After the air leaves the condenser it is reheated by the heater 52 so that it is in a condition to pick up more solvent from the garments which are being tumbled in the rotating cylinder.

Due to the use of the hollow perforated shaft 11 and to the fact that there is a suction effect in the chamber 40 below the bottom of the cylinder, the heated air is continually pulled in a downward direction so that there is maximum contact of the heated air with the tumbling garments, which garments are usually tumbling in the lower portion of the cylinder. The generally downward movement of the heated air is highly eflicient because when it becomes saturated with the perchlorethylene cleaning fluid, the latter is heavy and naturally wants to descend.

With the substantially closed suction arrangement illustrated there is a partial vacuum in the system so that lower drying temperatures may be employed because of the fact that the solvent will vaporize at a lower temperature when it is under a vacuum. Thus high drying temperatures are unnecessary and there is less danger of shrinkage, setting of stains, or other damage usually caused by excessive temperatures.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim as the invention is:

l. Dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a cylinder mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis, a hollow perforated drive shaft extending axially through and fixed to said cylinder, said cylinder having a perforated periphery, a condenser, means including an exhaust conduit for receiving air from the cylinder which has left the latter through the perforated periphery thereof and for conducting the same to said condenser, a heater, a conduit between said condenser and heater, a suction fan in said conduit, said conduit having an air outlet opening between the fan and heater, a valve selectively controlling the flow either to the heater or through said air outlet from said fan, and means leading from said heater for conducting heated air into an end of said hollow shaft.

2. Dry cleaning apparatus comprising an outer casing having an end bearing, a drive shaft extending horizontally through said casing and having an end journaled through said bearing, a cylinder having a perforated periphery mounted on said shaft within said casing and rotatable with'the shaft, portions of said drive shaft within the cylinder being hollow and perforated and said hollow portion extending adjacent said bearing, an exhaust duct for exhausting air from the cylinder through the perforated periphery thereof, conduit means connecting said exhaust duct with the hollow portion of said drive shaft adjacent said bearing to provide a normally closed circuit, and a suction fan in said conduit means normally maintaining a partial vacuum in the casing.

3. Dry cleaning apparatus comprising an outer casing having an end bearing, a drive shaft extending horizontally through said casing and having an end journaled through said bearing, a cylinder having a perforated periphery mounted on said shaft within said casing and rotatable with the shaft, portions of said drive shaft within the cylinder being hollow and perforated and said hollow portion extending adjacent said bearing, an exhaust duct for exhausting air from the cylinder through its per forated periphery, a condenser, normally closed conduit system, said system including a conduit connecting said exhaust duct with one end of said condenser to conduct exhausted air thereto, a heater, said system also including a conduit connecting the heater with the other end of said condenser, a suction fan in said conduit system, and said conduit system including conduit means extending from said heater to the hollow portion of said drive shaft which is adjacent said bearing to complete said closed circuit, said suction fan normally maintaining a partial vacuum in the casing and cylinder.

4. Dry cleaning apparatus comprising an outer casing having an end bearing, a drive shaft extending horizontally through said casing and having an end journaled through said bearing, a cylinder having a perforated periphery mounted on said shaft Within said casing and rotatable with the shaft, portions of said drive shaft within the cylinder being hollow and perforated and said hollow portion extending adjacent said bearing, an exhaust duct at the bottom of the casing for exhausting air from the cylinder through the bottom portion of its perforated periphery, a condenser, a conduit connecting said exhaust duct with one end of said condenser to conduct exhausted air thereto, a heater, a conduit connecting the heater with the other end of said condenser, a suction fan in said conduit, means including a valve in said conduit between said fan and heater constructed to selectively permit exhaust of air from the fan to the exterior, means for admitting outside air to the conduit system whenever air is being thus exhausted, and conduit means extending from said heater to the hollow portion of said drive shaft which is adjacent said bearing to provide a normally closed circuit, said suction fan normally maintaining a partial vacuum in the casing and cylinder.

5. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a cylinder rotatably mounted on a substantially horizontal axis; a hollow perforated drive shaft extending axially through said cylinder to which said cylinder is xedly connected, said cylinder having a perforated periphery; a perforated sleeve fixed to and extending axially within the cylinder and radially spaced from and coaxial with and enclosing the hollow perforated drive shaft; a perforated diametric partition extending between said sleeve and the periphery of the cylinder dividing the cylinder into two semi-cylindrical sections; means for conducting heated air into the hollow drive shaft; and means including an exhaust duct for exhausting air from the cylinder through the perforated periphery thereof.

6. Dry cleaning apparatus comprising a cylinder having a perforated periphery; a hollow perforated drive shaft of relatively small diameter extending axially through said cylinder to which said cylinder is xedly connected; means for rotatably supporting said drive shaft in a substantially horizontal position; a relatively short sleeve at each end of and within the cylinder surrounding the drive shaft; gusset plates projecting from said sleeves; a perforated sleeve surrounding the perforated drive shaft and of larger diameter than said drive shaft and extending between said rst mentioned sleeves; perforated partition meansV extending between said sleeve and the periphery of the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into two semi-cylindrical sections, portions of said partition means being connected to said gusset plates, means for conducting heated air into the hollow drive shaft while the latter is rotating, and means for exhausting air from the cylinder through its perforated periphery.

7. Dry cleaning apparatus comprising a cylinder hav ing a perforated periphery; a hollow perforated drive shaft of relatively small diameter extending axially through said cylinder to which said cylinder is ixedly connected; means for rotatably supporting said drive shaft in a substantially horizontal position; a relatively short sleeve at each end of and within the cylinder surrounding the drive shaft, said sleeves having annular end seats which face one another; gusset plates projecting from said sleeves; a perforated sleeve Surrounding the perforated drive shaft and of larger diameter than said drive shaft and having its ends supported'in the annular end seats of the short sleeves; perforated partition means extending between said sleeve and the periphery of the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into two semi-cylindrical sections, portions of said partition means being connected to said gusset plates, means for conducting heated air into the hollow drive shaft while the latter is rotating, and means for exhausting air from the cylinder through its perforated periphery.

8. Dry cleaning apparatus comprising an outer casing having an end bearing, a drive shaft extending horizontally through said casing and having an end journaled through said bearing, a cylinder having a perforated periphery mounted on said shaft within said casing and rotatable with the shaft, portions of said drive shaft within the cylinder being hollow and perforated and said hollow portion extending adjacent said bearing, an exhaust duct for exhausting air from the cylinder through its perforated periphery, a condenser, a conduit system, said system including a conduit connecting said exhaust duct with one end of said condenser to conduct exhausted air thereto, a heater, said conduit system including a conduit connecting the heater with the other end of said condenser, a suction fan in said conduit system, means including a valve in said conduit between the heater and condenser constructed to selectively permit exhaust of air to the exterior, and means for admitting outside air to the conduit system whenever airis being thus exhausted, said conduit system including a conduit extending from said heater to the hollow portion of said drive shaft which is adjacent iaid bearing to provide a normally closed circuit, said suction fan normally maintaining a partial vacuum in the casing and cylinder.

9. Dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a cylinder mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis, a hollow perforated drive shaft extending axially through and fixed to said cylinder, said cylinder having a perforated periphery, a condenser, a conduit system including an exhaust conduit for receiving air from the cylinder which has left the latter through the perforated periphery theeof and for conducting the same to said condenser, a heater, said conduit system including a conduit between said condenser and heater, a suction fan in said conduit system, said conduit system having an air outlet opening between the condenser and heater, a valve selectively controlling the flow either to the heater or through said air outlet, and said conduit system including means leading from said heater for conducting heated air into an end of said hollow shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,410,230 Wagner Mar. 21, 1922 2,098,066 Sibon, .Tr Nov. 2, 1937 2,121,431 Hamm June 21, 1938 2,400,726 Wright et al. May 21, 1946 2,574,251 Dinley Nov. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 981,103 France Jan. 10, 1951 

